In this episode of Cool Change, host Chuck Allen welcomes back Ashley Baer, a mindfulness teacher who specializes in helping individuals in high-stress professions, including teachers, healthcare workers, and leaders, manage stress and improve their ability to influence others.

In her first appearance on the show, Ashley shared her personal journey of overcoming childhood trauma and using mindfulness to help others. In this follow-up conversation, Ashley shares more about how she works with teachers and other high-stress professionals to apply mindfulness techniques to their work and personal lives.

During the interview, Ashley discusses the benefits of mindfulness, including stress reduction, better decision-making, and improved communication skills. She also shares practical tips and strategies for incorporating mindfulness into everyday routines, even for those with busy schedules.

Listeners will gain insights into how mindfulness can help them manage stress and improve their ability to influence others, both in their personal and professional lives. Whether you are a teacher, healthcare worker, or leader, or simply looking to reduce stress and improve your well-being, this episode is packed with practical advice that you won't want to miss.

Thanks for tuning in to Cool Change. Don't forget to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review. And be sure to join us in two weeks for another inspiring conversation.

In this episode, we're talking to Tiffany Richards, founder of Peaceful Warrior Woman, about how to protect yourself both physically and emotionally.

Whether you've experienced a major life change or tragedy, or simply want to feel more confident and empowered in your daily life, Tiffany has some powerful insights to share.

We discuss everything from the power of morning disciplines to the principles of martial arts that can help you stay safe and centered.

But this episode isn't just about self-defense. We also delve into how being of service can pull you out of pain and small thinking, and how acting "as if" you are your best self can help you manifest the life you truly want.

Plus, we explore practical advice for protecting yourself both physically and emotionally.

So, if you're ready to feel more empowered and confident in your own skin, join us for this inspiring conversation with Tiffany Richards on Cool Change.

For more information, check out peacefulwarriorwoman.com, or check out the Instagram and Facebook accounts @peacefulwarriorphx.

Author of the new book "Always Forward," Vince Schiano's quest for purpose and direction in life led him to make a decision that would save a life and influence many, many more.

In this episode, Chuck talks with Vince about the events in his life that led him to a place where this decision was actually easy for him.

In his story, you may find inspiration for uncovering your own purpose... and why it may have more to do with others than yourself.

In this episode, Chuck is joined by his favorite leader, Rilla Delorier, who also happens to be his wife. Together they break down their design principes for a life well lived together:

Miere: A connection that is north of love and south of agapé.

Vitality: We are young in mind and body.

Mindset: We design with intention while allowing life to unfold as it will.

Purpose: We have fun and make a difference.

Family: Our family feels loved and cherished by us.

Fun: We are Friends of Frivolity and Guardians of Good Times.

Travel: We roam the planet purposefully.

Ever feel like you're running through life like it's a race? There's a better way. In this episode, Chuck shares a simple idea about how to be more intententional with the pace of your life.

In this episode, Chuck shares a very simple, easy way to think about whether you're spending your time doing work that is aligned with how you're wired. It's especially helpful to think about when you're considering a job or career change.

How do you know what serves you and what doesn't? In this episode, Chuck talks about how to evaluate the scripts and beliefs that we're holding to see if they have a place in our next chapter.

I won't give up on bluegrass, the open road, pinot noir, and Connect 4. But in some things in life, giving up is the strongest, wisest, most hopeful choice you can make.

If you're thinking about what's next in your career, my conversation with Rob Price, CEO of School of Rock, should be the next thing on your playlist.

In this episode, Rob talks about his own success journey and shares a ton of useful ideas about how to navigate life and career changes... and how to make good use of your time right where you are, even if it's before your next cool change.

The story of Mike Strawn, who - after suffering from multiple myeloma for at least 17 years - chose to die by self-administered suicide. This episode captures Mike and his family's thoughts and wishes in his final weeks, days, and hours.

My hope is that by listening to Mike's story, we are prompted to fear less and find joy more often.

Whether we think about it this way or not, all of us have a brand. When people encounter us, there are certain thoughts, feelings and images that come to mind which are, in effect, a sort of brand experience. With some intention, we can design our own brand to be a true reflection of ourselves in ways that communicate us more effectively to the world around us.

Allison Netzer is a branding expert and co-author of the new book "Think Like a Brand, Not a Bank," and she has some eye-opening ideas about how we can think about branding differently... either for ourselves or for our organizations.

Founder, Podcaster, and Pilot Mike Quinlan helps business owners make an "elite exit" from their businesses, and has some useful ideas and wisdom for the rest of us.

Author and Rented.com CEO Andrew McConnell wants us to start acting like owners - of our minds - and stop allowing self-doubt and negative emotions to stay rent-free.

His new book, "Get Out of My Head - Creating Modern Clarity with Stoic Wisdom," will be available in June 2022.

M. Andrew McConnell is the CEO of Rented, Inc. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, he graduated Harvard College, Harvard Law School, and the University of Cambridge with honors. As a member of the USA Open Water Swimming National Team, he earned an international bronze medal.

Before striking out on his own, Andrew worked as a banker, an attorney, and a consultant. He sits on the board of Sheltering Arms, is a founding Board Member of Atlanta Technology Leaders, and is a TechStars Mentor for social impact startups. Andrew lives in Georgia with his wife and daughter.

In this episode, Chuck talks with Andrew about why it's so important for us to pay attention to our thoughts so that we can live to our greatest potential.

More info about his book is available at mandrewmcconnell.com.

Keith Smith walked a well-worn path to success: make business the priority, and fit in everything else after. Not that unusual, really. And neither was the result: divorce, stress, and disruption.

What make’s Keith’s story unusual is what he did afterward: he used this moment in time as an awakening, as he calls it. He reversed the order of his priorities: business, abundance, relationships, health, and self.

Keith’s awakening, and his ongoing journey, may provide a few ideas we can use to shift our priorities before a crisis shifts them for us.

In this episode, he talks about why he turned Do-Have-Be into Be-Do-Have.

Listen in as Chuck sits down with his wife and favorite leader, Rilla Delorier, to discuss how they approach life design. Rilla's lifelong mission is to "have fun and make a difference," and in this episode, she reveals the thinking behind her success and shares many of the lessons she's picked up along the way.

Their conversation includes advice for women leaders and young people entering the workforce. She discusses how her views about performance and achievement have changed over time, and about the daily practice that keeps the main thing the main thing.


“Every time that I drank, I did not get into trouble. But every time I was in trouble, I had been drinking.”

Jim Spicer has been sober for 19 years. And today he is on the front lines of intervention and building recovery solutions for families. He has spoken on the topic of recovery to over 50,000 people.

In this episode, Jim and I talk about legitimate and real paths forward, whether you are struggling with addiction yourself or know someone who is.

Want to connect with Jim directly? Email him at Fcoup83@aol.com. And yes, he's heard all the "AOL is still around?" jokes.

Author, serial entrepreneur, and executive life coach Nick Kennedy talks with me about building a principled business, leading a purposeful life, and creating positive change as an entrepreneur. His lessons are for all of us, whether we intend to start our own business or not. In fact, Nick’s definition of “entrepreneur” likely includes you, no matter your field of work.

Nick spent hundreds of hours visiting his father in prison before eventually starting several companies, including an airline that was sold in 2017. He was named a 2017 EY Entrepreneur of the Year, awarded Dallas Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and serves as a Capital Factory mentor and is on the boards of several companies. He’s been featured in NY Times, The Wall Street Journal, D Magazine, Texas Monthly, Dallas News, and the Dallas Business Journal.

Brain Coach, Speaker, and Creator of the fun and informative videos “Tiny Tips for Your Brain,” Jocelyn Brady sits down with me to talk about how we can literally change our brains to produce more outcomes that we want.

She also discusses the science of play — and how important it is for adults to incorporate it as a way to keep learning and stay engaged.

We also discuss how to rewrite the stories in our brains to reflect how we want our lives to go.

For more information, visit her website.

In this episode, Jeff Otis and I riff about intentional life design, touching on—among other things—goal setting, playing to your strengths, personal accountability, and developing a roadmap for success.

Jeff is the founder of Project OTY (developing an Outstanding and Talented You), and is the author of two books, Transform with Confidence and Build Your Roadmap, Create Your World. You can also check out his TEDx talk, How to Create YOUR World, here.

Jeff believes that the future of our world depends on our ability to empower ourselves and the coming generations to be the leader in their lives, and that it’s up to all of us (regardless of age, background, or gender) to create a global culture of personal accountability.

Fitness expert and former pro baseball player Colin Feldtman shares simple steps you can take now to take control of your fitness whether you have a trainer and a gym or are going it alone.